living wisely and well

When I left my job in Winnipeg a year ago, I knew I was taking a chance.

I had secure job at a nice school, with great staff and benefits. It was comfortable ... predictable and I was grateful to have the position. Yet, I left that behind and took a chance on essentially starting at the bottom rung of the ladder here in Ottawa.

Here I am today, working as a substitute Educational Assistant ... hoping at some point to get hired full time at a nice school.

Working as a substitute E A has it's good points - there is variety: going from school to school, I get to meet a lot of people and find out what many of the schools are like. I don't mind have days that I don't work: we don't really need the money, and on those days there are other things I can do around the house to stay productive. One of the things I love about visiting new schools is discovering other educators who are passionate about doing good things.

Recently in a staff room, I came across a poster
that I though was worth sharing -

21 Suggestions for Living Wisely and Well

1. Teach by example.
2. Bless every day with a generous act.
3. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
4. Do something every day that maintains good health.
5. Take family vacations whether you can afford them or not.
6. Stand up for your principles even if you stand alone.
7. Judge your success by the degree that you’re enjoying peace, health and love.
8. Be there when people need you.
9. Be devoted to your spouse and dedicated to your children.
10. Be of service to your community and your country.
11. Have courage when things go wrong.
12. Tell the truth.
13. Maintain your resources wisely.
14. Be satisfied, don’t grumble.
15. Don’t overlook life’s small joys while searching for big ones.
16. Discover the power of prayer.
17. Discover the power of forgiveness.
18. Love people more than things.
19. Look for the good.
20. Search for the truth.
21. Hope for the best.

By: H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

I love seeing good people do good things. The world is full of them,
and thank goodness ... People who care, who are nurturing, intelligent and positive. I am drawn to them, and look for opportunities to learn from them. I strive to be one of them wherever possible, and know that character and attitude are far more important than homework and assignments.

I really enjoy some of the people I have been working with lately ...
wonderful staff and great children. I sometime feel like I might have the best job in the world.

There are usually hidden opportunities in change. Leaving comfort and predictability might be difficult, but the rewards are often wonderful ...